Everyone is trying to accomplish something big, not realizing that life is made up of little things. – Frank A. Clark

Daily Habits are small constructive actions done on a routine basis that quickly give you a sense of accomplishment and forward momentum. Daily habits form a foundation upon which major change takes place. What action, if taken on a regular basis, would make a difference for you? (at the end of the post there's a free worksheet to download).

Here's an example, drawn from the the book The Slight Edge: if you ate a cheeseburger everyday of your life, what would your health be like in 20 years? What if you did ten minutes of light exercise everyday for 20 years?What would you accumulate?

I use these sheets for: exercise, these blog postings, homework from my coach ... everything and anything. They keep me on track and keep me moving forward.

Tip #1: Instead of shaming yourself for days you don't do the habit, just watch and learn. For instance: I see a pattern in the days that I'm doing my exercising and it tells me where I need to expand.

Tip #2: Put the worksheet up on a wall. Someplace that will jog your memory.

Tip #3: If you have something like exercises (I have them for my back) staple the worksheet to one side of a manila file folder, and the exercise sheets to the other side of the folder. Use colorful folders!

Tip #4: New habit? Make it small. 5 minutes. Do-able. 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 5 weeks. That will establish the habit!

To the dull mind all nature is leaden. To the illumined mind the whole world burns and sparkles with light.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

It amazes me to actually pay attention to the difference between slowing down and being present, something I give lip service to all the time, and ACTUALLY doing so. How my mind sees and feels the illumination of "the whole world," instead of when I clog my mind up.

Last night I was working on a mechanical project. Half of it I spent doing it and listening to music, working on the project while playing music, the other half I spent doing it and watching a movie. One is "more skillful" then the other, not better or worse: during the portion with the music I could feel a presence of this natural ability (is it channeling?) to mechanically repair things, and muck about with tools. During the movie-watching portion, doing the same project, I'm not quite drugged, but I am, for certain less present in the powerful NOW .... that's so silently illuminated with just being.

Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success or failure: which is more destructive? If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.